After the short thunderstorm last night the morning was sunny with a hint of blue skies. I put on my running gear and left my apartment just past 7 a.m. heading directly north through the old diplomatic quarter entering Ritan-Park. Many Chinese were already out practicing all sorts of sports like batminton, Tai Qi and dance. Leaving the park through the north gate I turned left and followed Ritan Street heading north passing one of the Russian quarters of Beijing. Only few people were in the streets, hardly any cars. Some garbage men were collecting waste emptying their electric driven container vehicles into larger waste container lorries. At a parking lot the drivers of courier tricycles where sorting out packages to be delivered spreading them all over the place.
At Gongrentiyuchang North Road I turned right leaving the Workers Gymnasium and the Workers Stadium at my right hand side. My left heel was already getting sore. Originally intending to take all the way to Chaoyang Park I suddenly realized the Sanlitun area just north of me. A lot had changed since I first dwelled in this place quarter of a century ago. The place had been through a severe process of gentrification since. The old one storie houses and narrow streets have been replaced by and partially even combined with very modern experimental architecture. Already in the 1990ies it was „en vogue“ with bars, clubs and fashion outlets. now it has become an institution with flagship stores of major international lifestyle brands.
Further north small housing units have survived. Making my way through the narrow alleys arriving at Dongzhimen Outer Street then turning left heading towards the center. Here I recognize a lot of places: Paddy O’Shea – the Irish Pub dates already back to the 1980ies. Also the beautiful Donghu Apartments with The Pizza Hut below. Lots of memories entered my mind. My parents lived there for two years in the beginning of the 1990ies.
On the way back the sun is getting more intense. Following Chunxiu Street southwards I almost picked the same route – just opposite direction – arriving at my apartment around nine o’clock.
